Electrical connector device



March 31, 1964 E. E. MARQUIS ETAL 3,127,230

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed May 1, 1962 United States Patent O 3,127,230 ELEQTMCAL CNNECTGR DEVICE Edgar E. Marquis, lrooldield, Conn. (Rte. 1, Flat Swamp Road, Newton, Coram), and James A. Marquis, 6 Young Piace, Danbury, Conn.

Filed May l, No2, Ser. No. 191,535 2 Claims. (El. SEQ-lid) This invention relates to electrical connection devices, and more particularly to a female connector of the type employing fluent material as a means for establishing an electrical contact between the connector and a male connector tip inserted into the device.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved female connector which may be employed in a number of diiierent ways, for example, as a rotatable connector, the female connector device being relatively simple in construction, providing an ecient electrical connection with very low contact resistance, and being arranged so that it cannot be readily damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved temale electrical connector device which is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be made in very small sizes, which provides an eilicient low-resistance electrical contact with a cooperating male connector element and which is highly resistant to shock and vibration.

A still further object ot the invention is to provide an improved female electrical connector device which is extremely versatile in its applications, which has a controllable insertion and withdrawal force which makes it especially suitable for use with multi-pin connector units, and which is protected against damage by the insertion of oversized pins therein.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of an improved female connector unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FGURE 1.

FlGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through a modified form of female connector element constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through a still further modification of a female connector unit according to this invention.

FlGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through another form of female connector unit according to the present invention.

FlGURE 6 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through the unit of FlGURE 5 but showing a male connector tip inserted therein.

FlGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through an electrical connector of the military type provided with improved female connection means according to this invention.

FGURE S is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in longitudinal cross section of still another form of female connector element according to the present invention, shown with a male Contact tip received therein.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l and 2, il generally designates an improved female connector assembly according to the present invention. The assembly ll comprises a generally tubular metallic main body l2 having the longitudinally extending cylindrical cavity i3 which is open at one end of the body l2. rl`he opposite end oi the body l2 is formed with the stem l5 having the integral soldering lug 16 adapted to be permanently connected to the end of a lead Patented Mar. 31, i964 wire or other electrical conductor, as by soldering, or the like.

Secured on the main body l?. is a sleeve l oi suitable material, such as brass or plastic, the sleeve member i7 being formed at its forward end with an inwardly projecting annular retaining rim or flange 25 formed with the inwardly converging, generally truste-conical opening i9 leading to the cylindrical bore Ztl of the annular rim 25'.

Disposed in the sleeve member Il'' and retained between the rim 25 and the open end of body l2 is an annular sealing member 22 of resilient deformable material, such as neoprene, rubber, or the like.

As shown in FGURE 2, the annular member 22 is integrally formed with an inwardly tapering end portion 23 which projects axially into the bore l, the rim of body 12 being provided with an inward bevel adjacent to portion 23 to provide clearance therefor. The member 22 is formed with the cylindrical axial bore i8 which leads to the conical, inwardly tapering bore portion 216 of member 23, said member being formed at its end with a slit 27 which is normally closed, whereby the member 22 normally seals olic the cavity 313. A quantity of electrically conductive fluent material 2S is provided in the cavity i3, said material comprising any suitable electrically conducting liquid, powder or paste, such as mercury, electrolyte, or the like.

The sealing member 22 is adapted to yieldably receive a male connector tip, the tip being insertable through the slit 27' into the cavity 1., to conductively enUage the fluent material 2li, whereby to establish an electrical connection between said tip and the metal main body l2.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the bore Ztl of the restraining member lll is preferably greater in diameter than the maximum inside diameter of the bore ot the sealing member 22, namely, than the inside diameter of the cylindrical bore ll. Thus, the bore ld serves not only as a guide and stabilizer for a male contact pin, but cooperates with the bore 2i? to prevent the insertion of an excessively oversize pin, thus preventing damage to the female connector unit from the use of such :a pin.

FGURE 3 shows a form of the invention employed for use as a miniaturized female connector. Thus, the miniaturized device, designated generally at 29 comprises the metal body 3@ 'formed with the connection bore 31 adapted to receive and be permanently connected to the end of a lead wire, or the like, by soldering, or by similar means. The body :itl is formed at its opposite end with a stud portion 32 on which is secured the tubular sleeve 33 of suitable material, such as brass or plastic. Secured in the open end ot the sleeve 33 is the inwardly convergent, generally conical resilient deformable sealing member 34 formed at its inner end with the normally closed but yieldable slit 35, the sealing member 34 being adapted to yieldably receive a male connector tip and to allow the tip to be received in the bore of the sleeve member 33 and to maire electrical Contact with a mass of electrically conducting tluent material 28 contained in said bore. Thus, electrical Contact is established between the male connector tip received in the sleeve and the metal com-rector body Ell through the conductive fluent material 28.

Referring now to FIGURE. 4, another form of female connector according to the present invention is illustrated. The connector is designated generally at 36 and comprises a generally tubular metal main body 37 formed at one end with the stud portion l5 which terminates in the connection lug lr6' adapted to be employed for receiving the end of a lead wire, or similar electrical conductor and to be permanently secured thereto, by soldering, or the like.

The opposite end of the body 3'7 is formed with the convergent rim 3S in which is secured a rigid retaining ring 39 having the cylindrical end bore 26 and the frustoconical end bevel lg'. The body 37 is provided with the generally cylindrical main bore dit? which is somewhat enlarged adjacent the retaining ring 39, as shown at di. Secured in the enlarged bore portion lll is a substantially annular resilient deformable sealing member i2 having an inwardly tapering frusto-conical end portion d3 received in the bore 4%. The member el is provided with the cylindrical main bore 44 which communicates with the inwardly convergent bore portion 45. The end of the conical portion '43 is formed with the normally closed yieldable slit de which normally seals off the interior cavity lill of member 37. A quantity of electrically conductive fluent material 2S is provided in the cavity 4f). Thus, a male connector tip is adapted to be inserted through the member 42 into the cavity 4t), the slit 46 being yieldable to allow the tip to pass therethrough, whereby the tip comes into electrical contact with the electrically conducting fluent material 28, .thus establishing an electrical connection between the male con- Lector tip and the female connection device 36.

As in the form of the invention illustrated in FlG- URES l and 2, the bore 2-0 is preferably larger in diameter than the inside bore 44- of the member 42, for the same reasons as given above in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2.

Referring to the Iform of the invention shown in FIG- URES and 6, the female connector element designated at 47 in said figures comprises an electrically conductive metal main body 4S formed with a stud portion 49 adapted to be soldered, or otherwise permanently connected to a lead wire or other electrical conductor. Secured on the end of the member 43, which is frusto-conical in shape, is a sleeve A'.:lfi of suitable rigid material, such as brass or other rigid material, formed at its end with the integral inwardly projecting annular retaining flange S1 having a cylindrical bore 52. Secured in the inner bore 53 of the sleeve 5G adjacent to the flange 51 is a generally annular resilient deformable sealing member 54 of rubber, neoprene, or the like having the conical, inwardly convergent bore 55 leading to the yieldable, normally closed end slit `56. Disposed in the cavity 53 of the sleeve Sil is a mass of conductive fluent material 2S. As shown in IFIGURE 6i, the tip of a male connector member 57 is engageable through the resilient deformable member 54, the slit 56 being yieldable, whereby the tip 57 may pass into the cavity 53 and come into contact with the' electrically conducting fluent material 2S, thus establishing an electrical connection between the tip `57 and the conductive main body 48.

FIGURE 7 shows an electrical connection assembly `60 of the military type which includes an annular resilient deformable connector-mounting inner body l61 in which is 4secured a female connection element 62 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The connection element 62 comprises a conductive main body 63 having an end bore 64 in which is adapte-d to be secured the end of a lead wire, or similar electrical conductor, in a permanent manner, as by soldering, or the like. A rigid plastic sleeve 65 is secured on the reduced stud element 67 formed on the body 63 opposite the cavity 64, the sleeve being formed at its end with the inwardly projecting retaining flange 68. A resilient deformable member 42, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 4, is secured in the sleeve 66 adjacent the flange 63, and a mass o-f fluent conductive material 2d is provided inside the sleeve 66 so as to be engageable with the tip of a male connector element inserted through the resilient deformable sealing member 42. This establishes electrical contact between the male connector element and the body 63 of the female receptacle unit 62.

FIGURE 8 illustrates another form of female connector element according to the present invention, designated generally at 7fl. The lfemale connection unit '70 comprises the generally tubular rigid metal main body 71 integrally formed at one end with a connection stern 72 which may be suitably connected to a lead wire or other electrical connector in a permanent manner, for example, as described in connection with FIGURES l to 4. Secured in the opposite end of the tubular body 71 is an annular rigid metal restraining bushing 73, and secured inside the tubular member 71 adjacent the bushing 73 is a generally annular resilient deformable sealing member 74, which may be similar to the sealing member 54 shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. A body of electrically conducting fluent material 23 is provided in the cavity 75 of member 7l, said fluent material establishing electrical contact between the tip of a male connector element 76 inserted through bushing 73 and sealing member 74 into the cavity 7S, and the body 7l, as illust-rated in FIGURE 8. The bushing 73 is formed with the frustoconical end bore portion '77 to facilitate the insertion of the tip 76 into the `female connector device 70.

As will be readily apparent, in any of the forms of the invention above described, the male tip may rotate relative to the female connector without interfering with the efficiency of the electrical connection provided by the electrically conductive fluent material 23, so that the device of the present invention may be employed `for establishing electrical connections between a pair of relatively rotatable bodies.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved female connector assembly have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed `on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A female connectorcomprising a generally tubular conductive mainbody open at a first end thereof, an axial connection stem integrally formed at the other end of said main body to permanently connect said other end to an electrical conductor, a rigid sleeve secured on said main body and being integrally formed with an inwardly projecting retaining flange located adjacent said open first end of the main body and having a cylindrical axial bore, an annular sealing member of resilient deformable material disposed and retained between said flange and the rim of lsaid open first end of the main body, said sealing member having an inwardly tapering hollow end portion which projects axially into the bore of said main body, said hollow end portion having a normally closed end slit whch normally seals off the interior of said main body, and a mass of electrically conductive fluent material in the interior of said main body, said sealing member being adapted to yieldably receive a male connector tip and to admit said tip through said slit into said cavity and into conductive engagement with said fluent material.

2. A female connector comprising a generally tubular conductive main body open at a first end thereof, an axial connection stem integrally formed at the other end of said main body to permanently connect said other end to an electrical conductor, a rigid sleeve secured on said main body and being integrally formed with an inwardly projecting retaining flange located adjacent said open first end of the main body and having a cylindrical axial bore, an annular sealing member of resilient deformable material disposed and retained between said flange and the rim of said open first end of the main body, said sealing member having an inwardly tapering conical hollow end por-tion which projects axially into the bore of said main body, said hollow end portion having a normally closed end slit which normally seals off the interior of said main body, and a mass of electrically conductive fluent material in the interior of said main body, said sealing member being adapted to yieldably receive a male connector tip and to admit said tip through said slit into said cavity and into conductive engagement with said fluent material,

said retaining flange having an inner bore greater in diameter than the maximum inside diameter of said sealing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fritchle Aug. 23, 1904 

1. A FEMALE CONNECTOR COMPRISING A GENERALLY TUBULAR CONDUCTIVE MAIN BODY OPEN AT A FIRST END THEREOF, AN AXIAL CONNECTION STEM INTEGRALLY FORMED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID MAIN BODY TO PERMANENTLY CONNECT SAID OTHER END TO AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR, A RIGID SLEEVE SECURED ON SAID MAIN BODY AND BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AN INWARDLY PROJECTING RETAINING FLANGE LOCATED ADJACENT SAID OPEN FIRST END OF THE MAIN BODY AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL AXIAL BORE, AN ANNULAR SEALING MEMBER OF RESILIENT DEFORMABLE MATERIAL DISPOSED AND RETAINED BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND THE RIM OF SAID OPEN FIRST END OF THE MAIN BODY, SAID SEALING MEMBER HAVING AN INWARDLY TAPERING HOLLOW END PORTION WHICH PROJECTS AXIALLY INTO THE BORE OF SAID MAIN BODY, SAID HOLLOW END PORTION HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED END SLIT WHCH NORMALLY SEALS OFF THE INTERIOR OF SAID MAIN BODY, AND A MASS OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FLUENT MATERIAL IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID MAIN BODY, SAID SEALING MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO YIELDABLY RECEIVE A MALE CONNECTOR TIP AND TO ADMIT SAID TIP THROUGH SAID SLIT INTO SAID CAVITY AND INTO CONDUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLUENT MATERIAL. 